Insurance when Pregnant

srir2i · Post by **srir2i** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 8:32 am

Hi,

In need of an insurance in the US when pregnant. Current insurance does not provide good benefits. Can anybody direct me to insurance companies that would accept new coverage or provide additional coverage when you are pregnant.

Thanks!

Bobus · Post by **Bobus** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:09 am

Life insurance or health/medical insurance? I suspect it the latter. Then there is car and home insurance. It helps to specify.

My wife got life insurance (pvt) when she was pregnant - no issues.

Regarding health / medical insurance, I dont think a sane private insurance provider (who is in the business for profit) will provide insurance to a woman without listing pregnancy as a preexisting condition that aint covered.

Insurance via employer (even a new one) will cover it even if it is a preexisting condition. Govt program for low income women will also cover it even if it is a pre-existing condition.

Beyond the above, membership in some associations may help if the association offers members the option to buy insurance as a group - I dont know of specific examples.

Ace Novice · Post by **Ace Novice** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:20 am

I don't believe getting coverage for pre-existing conditions is possible (at least until Clinton takes up residence again in the White House). In fact, I suspect some employers too have restrictive covenants for pre-existing conditions.

I suggest you talk to an insurance agent about your options.

Some websites:
http://usafact.org/medicalinsurance.html
http://www.goldenrule.com/
http://www.insurance.com/Health.aspx
http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/

If it is a high risk pregnancy and you do not have adequate insurance, and if it is possible to travel, you could consider traveling to wherever it would work better for you. Alternatively, you could change employment if that is feasible and the new employer's coverage meets your needs.

If your current or future employer offers FSA, you can look into that too. It doesn't reduce your expenses but you can use pre-tax dollars to pay for medical expenses.

srir2i · Post by **srir2i** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:29 am

Thank you Bobus and Ace Novice.

Yes, was referring to medical insurance. (Have a term life insurance policy).
Shifting jobs at this time does not look feasible. Maybe taking up a second job just for the sake of insurance could be an option.

Travelling to India has other limitations too. Also, having to lose a couple of extra months of salary before delivery and avoiding insurance cost, does not seem to balance. Hoping that the delivery goes smooth.

Considering FSA options.

Will research more into associations that offer a group insurance plan, that would really work out great.

If anyone or your friends had been in this situation before, understanding the decision you made and the lessons learned would be great.

One lesson learnt that I want to stress on: Anyone who plans to have a baby should always have an insurance that covers 100% of medical costs. :)

Thanks again.

Ace Novice · Post by **Ace Novice** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:42 am

srir2i;57246.... One lesson learnt that I want to stress on: Anyone who plans to have a baby should always have an insurance that covers 100% of medical costs. ....[/quote]

What kind of expenses are you having to pay out of pocket ?

srir2i · Post by **srir2i** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:02 pm

Ace Novice,

The hospital services are covered only for 80%

Considering if a secondary insurance would be an option.

Ace Novice · Post by **Ace Novice** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:49 pm

srir2i;57803....The hospital services are covered only for 80%....[/quote]

That by itself should not be a major problem for a normal delivery and discharge. Your 20% should be 20% of the negotiated charges. Thus, if the hospital bills you $10000, the carrier's negotiated charges could be around (say) $3000. Your share would be 20% of $3000.

MadMax · Post by **MadMax** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:22 pm

Also, even if you had 100% coverage, the premium on your policy would have been more....which would ahve amounted to the same/similar cost.

sortout · Post by **sortout** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:43 pm

Dude,

No Isurance is going to cover 100% of the costs unless its an HMO, for most employer provided PPO plans 90% of the costs is paid by the insurance and you pay the remaining 10% till a out of pocket maximum.

Check the out of pocket maximum for your policy, it should 1500$ or so. You have to pay something..

Ace Novice · Post by **Ace Novice** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:53 pm

There are companies that cover all costs.